A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas judge Wednesday to five years in prison — a stiffer punishment than prosecutors recommended — after he admitted giving young male defendants lighter sentences in return for personal benefits that included sexual favours.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

In a 60 Minutes online exclusive, reporter Liz Hayes quizzed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his relationship with the unpredictable Twitter aficionado and US president Donald Trump ahead of their meeting at the White House Friday.

Two charged over Vic car theft racket

Two men have been charged with more than 500 offences over an alleged car theft racket in Melbourne's west.

Taskforce Rio members raided three properties on Tuesday at St Albans, Derrimut and Delahey, and arrested three men.

Matthew and Dean Micallef, from St Albans and Derrimut, have been charged with more than 500 offences including theft of motor vehicle, obtaining property by deception, making and using false document, possessing property proceeds of crime and handling stolen goods.

The men, aged 21 and 32, were remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A 53-year-old Delahey man was interviewed and released pending further inquiries.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have seen a bright orange or red tow truck removing vehicles from train stations and the side of the road in the western suburbs between May 2011 and October 2012.